Introduction
  Common Name
  Amla in Worship
  Amla  Plant
  Chemical Constituents  
  Cultivation
  Amla  as Medicinal Herb
  Other uses of Amla
  Food value in Amla
  Amla Side Effects
  Economics
  Modern Research
  References

  Introduction: 
 The Amla or Neelikkai (Phyllanthus Embilca) is also called Amalka in Hindi. In Sanskrit its name is Amalaki, which translates as ‘the sustainer’ or ‘the fruit where the goddess of prosperity presides’. The English term for Amla is Indian gooseberry. It is a small tree with leathery leaves and a fleshy fruit.  Amla is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C, its fresh juice containing nearly twenty times as much vitamin C as orange juice. A single tiny Amla is equivalent in vitamin C content to two oranges. Clinical tests on patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis have shown that this high concentrate is more quickly assimilated then the synthetic vitamin.
   It is an ingredient of many Ayurvedic medicines and tonics, as it removes excessive salivation, nausea, vomiting, giddiness, spermatorrhoea, internal body heat and menstrual disorders. Because it is also cooling, it increases sattwa, and is an excellent liver tonic. The Ayrvedic text Bhav-Prakash describe the Amla or Amallki as:
 हन्ति वांत तदम्लत्वात् पित्तं माधुर्यशैत्यतः |
 कफं रुक्षकषायत्वात् फलं धात्र्यारित्रदोषजित् ||       
  According to Ayurveda,Amla fruit is sour and astringent (kashaya) in taste (rasa), with sweet (madhura), bitter (tikta) and pungent (katu) .Its qualities (gunas) are light (laghu) and dry (ruksha), the postdigestive effect (vipaka) is sweet (madhura), and its energy (virya) is cooling (shita).        
  It is also a very important ingredient in the famous Chyavanaprash, and a constituent of Triphala (three fruits) powder. The Amla fruit is considered to be so nourishing that the tree has been worshipped in India from ancient times as the ‘Earth Mother’, and is said to be nursing humankind. 
  In Chinese traditional therapy, Amla fruit is called Yuganzi (余甘子), which is used to cure throat inflammation.
  Common Name:
Hindi -           Aamla (आँवला)
English -       Gooseberry , Emblic Myrobalam
Latin  -          Emblica offcinalis Gaerte
Sanskrit -     Amalki, Dhatri, amalika (अम्लिका)
Gujarati -      Aamla (આમળા)
Punjabi  -      Olay
Assamese  -Amlakhi  
Odiya   -       Aanla 
Tamil    -       Nellikkai (நெல்லிக்காய்)
Kannada -    Nellikkaai (ಗುಡ್ದದ ನೆಲ್ಲಿ)
Telugu       -  Usiri (ఉసిరి కాయ) (or Usirikai )
Malayalam-  Nellikka (നെല്ലിക്ക)  
Marathi    -   Aavalaa (आवळा)
Bangla     -   Amloki (আমলকী)
Chinese  -    Anmole (庵摩勒)  
Nepali     -    Amala  (अमला)      

   Amla in Worship: 
  Hindu scriptures provide some general guidelines for the use of plants in worship. Goddess Laxmi (महा लक्ष्मी), who is especially associated with this tree, is worshipped with its leaves, especially in the month of Marga Shirsha (November/ December). Some trees are believed to have originated from bodies or limbs of Gods. The Peepul, or Bo-tree, was born from the body of Lord Vishnu. Palas, Flame of the forest, was born from the body of Brahma. Amla (Emblic myrobalan) rose from tears of Brahma and the Rudraksha (Blue marble tree) grew from tears shed by Lord Shiva (शिव)  
   Amla Plant: 
   A small to medium sized deciduous tree, 8-18m. in height with crooked trunk and spreading branches. Leaves simple, sub sessile; flower greenish-yellow; fruit nearly spherical pale yellow with 6 vertical furrows. 
  Chemical Constituents: 
  To investigate the chemical constituents of Tibetan medicine Phyllanthus emblica ( amla ). RESULT: 11 compounds were isolated in amla and identified as gallic acid (I), ellagic acid (II), 1-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose (III),  3,6-di-O-galloyl-D-glucose (IV), chebulinic acid (V), quercetin (VI), chebulagic acid (VII), corilagin (VIII), 3-ethylgallic acid (3-ethoxy-4,5-dihydroxy-benzoic acid, IX), isostrictiniin (X) ascorbic acid
   Cultivation
 SOIL AND CLIMATE
 Amla can be grown in light as well as heavy soils except purely sandy soil. Calcareous soil with rocky substratum can also be good. However, well drained fertile loamy soil is the best for higher yield. The plant have capacity for adaptation to dry regions and can also grow in moderately alkaline soils. It is grown extensively under tropical condition. Annual rainfall of 630-800 mm have given good yield. The young plants up to the age of 3 years should be protected from hot wind during May-June and from frost during winter months. The mature plants can tolerate freezing temperature as well as temperature up to 460C.
 PLANTING
  Amla is generally propagated through seeds, but seed propagated trees bear inferior quality fruits and have a long gestation period. Shield budding is done on one year old seedlings with buds collected from superior strains yielding big size fruits. Older trees of inferior types can be rejuvenated and easily changed into superior type by top working. 
 The pits of 1m3 are prepared during May-June at a distance of 4.5 m spacing and should be left for 15-20 days exposed to sunlight. Each pit should be filled with surface soil mixed with 15 kg farm yard manure and one kg of super phosphate before planting the grafted seedling. 
THINNING AND WEEDING
 Weeding & Hoeing is required in nursery.
MANURES, FERTILISERS AND PESTICIDES
 The medicinal plants have to be grown without chemical fertilizers and use of pesticides. Organic manures like, Farm Yard Manure (FYM), Vermi-Compost, Green Manure etc. may be used as per requirement of the species. To prevent diseases, bio-pesticides could be prepared (either single or mixture) from Neem (kernel, seeds & leaves), Chitrakmool, Dhatura, Cow's urine etc. Biofertilizers such as Azotobacter, phosphobacterium and Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM)  boost the plant growth. 
IRRIGATION
 Amla plants hardly require irrigation during monsoon. Young plants require watering during summer months at 15 days interval till they have fully established. Watering of mature fruit bearing plants is advised during summer months at bi-weekly intervals to increase fruit set and to reduce fruit drop. It responds very well to drip irrigation. After the monsoon rains, during October-December about 25-30 litres of water per day per tree through drips should be given. 
HARVESTING/ POST HARVESTING
Amla seedlings start bearing fruits in 7-8 years after planting, while the budded clones will start bearing fruits from the 5th year onwards. The fruits are light green at first, but when they mature become dull greenish yellow. Best harvesting time of Amla fruits is February when the fruits have maximum ascorbic acid content. In South India, fruits are found throughout the year. The mature fruits are hard and they do not fall for gentle touch and therefore vigorous shaking is required. For getting attractive prices fruits after harvest should be made into different grades depending on the size. Fruits can also be harvested using long bamboo poles attached with hooks.

   YIELD
  A matured tree of about 10 years will yield 50-70 kg of fruit. The average weight of the fruits is 60-70 g. One kg contains about 1`5-20 number of fruits. A well maintained tree will be yielding up to an age of 70 years. The yield increases year by year up to 50 years. 
   Amla as Medicinal Herb
  Amla is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C, its fresh juice containing nearly twenty times as much vitamin C as orange juice.  Clinical tests on patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis have shown that this high concentrate is more quickly assimilated then the synthetic vitamin. It is an ingredient of many Ayurvedic medicines and tonics, as it removes excessive salivation, nausea, vomiting, giddiness, spermatorrhoea, internal body heat and menstrual disorders. Because it is also cooling, it increases sattwa, and is an excellent liver tonic. 
  Ayurveda recommends taking a tonic made from the fruit throughout the winter months. The fresh fruit is a diuretic and a laxative. A cooling and refreshing drink can be made from it. Ayurvedic doctors ( Vaidya) recommend drinking the juice during the summer months when the body’s functions become sluggish due to the heat. To clear the bowels and correct digestion boil four teaspoons of Amla powder, four teaspoons of Myrobalans Chebulic and four teaspoons of Bahera, in twenty ounces of water. For best results, two ounces should be consumed in the early morning on an empty stomach. 
  The dried Amla fruit is astringent and useful in cases of diarrhoea and dysentery. It is also a very important ingredient in the famous Chyavanaprash, and a constituent of Triphala (three fruits) powder. The application of a small quantity of Amla oil to the head before bathing removes diseases of the eyes, night blindness and bilious giddiness. Amla confection is used in syphilis, flatulence, bronchitis, asthma and consumption.  A series of clinical tests on the Amla have found that the fruit contains elements that are anti-viral, raise the total protein level in the body, activate the adrenaline response, and protect against tremors and convulsions. The Amla is also said to bestow beauty. 
 Unlike other preserves Amla does not lose its properties over time but retains its curative power and quality. Dried Amla is an excellent digestive, which can be consumed after food. According to Ayurveda the traditional medicine system of India Amla  fruit is one of the strongest rejuvenators. Amla  rebuilds new tissues and increases the red blood cell count. It cleanses the mouth, strengthens the teeth, stops the bleeding of gums and improves eyesight. it nourishes the bones and promotes the growth of healthy, lustrous hair and strong nails. It is considered acrid, cooling, astringent, diuretic and laxative.
 Amla has most anti-diabetic property.  To prevent or cure diabetes take a fresh one-fourth cup of Amla  or a tea spoon of Amla powder with a tea spoon of turmeric powder everyday. 
                                                                                                                  
  Other uses of Amla
  The fruits are used in the preparation of writing inks and hair dyes. The dried fruit is used as shampoo for the head. The leaves and fruits are used as fodder for cattle. The leaves contain a brownish yellow colouring matter. The wood is red, hard and close-grained; it is liable to split. It is used for agricultural implements, poles and inferior building and furniture work. It is durable under water and is suited for well-work. Amla oil is used as a hair conditioner and an effective preventing for balding and graying of hair.
  Indian gooseberry (amla is one of the richest sources of Vitamin C. It improves digestion, is a potent liver cleanser, and helps to erase age spots. It also helps reduce blood sugar. Mix a tablespoon of amla juice with half a cup of bitter gourd juice and drink it in the morning.
  Food value in Amla
  The nutrition values of Amala are: moisture, 91.4; mineral matter, 0.7; fibre, 3.4; calorie, 96 (energy); protein, 0.9; fat, 0.1; carbohydrate, 6.9g.; calcium, 34; iron, 1.2; vitamin B-1, 0.02; vitamin B-2, 0.08, and vitamin C 463 mg./100gms.  The fruit juice contains nearly 20 times as much vitamin C as orange juice and a single fruit is equal in antiscorbutic value to one or two oranges. 
  Amla Side Effects
   No side effect is found.
  Economics
  Amla is economically viable and bigger fruits can be got from the third year of planting. Each plant will yield about 25 kg of fruits a year. When the trees are five years old, the yield per tree will gradually rise to 50 kg a year. From the 8 th year onwards, the average output per tree will be about 100 kg a year.  The cost of raising an amla plantation may be upto to  Rs. 1.25 lakh per hectare. The returns from the third year of planting, at an average price of Rs. 10 a kg of fruits, will be about Rs. 2.5 lakhs.
  The J&K State Medicinal plants Board Directorate of Indian Systems of Medicine has launched a campaign on promotion of usages and cultivation of Amla across the state. The campaign is a part of the project “National Campaign on Amla” sanctioned by Department of AYUSH Ministry of Health & FW Government of India. The campaign is aimed to promote the health benefits and mass cultivation of Amla, so as to boost the economics of growers etc and preserve the indigenous system of medicine.      
  Modern Research   
  Amla was shown to be an effective food supplement during the treatment of insulin  Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, at a study in Coimbatore.  A project to harness country's rich reserves of Indian gooseberry as a safe, natural and universally acceptable source of Vitamin C has been approved by the Union government.
  "The Government's Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has entrusted the Centre of Food Technology at Allahabad University to standardise the processing of the gooseberry, also known as 'amla', Professor G K Rai said. Rai, who is the Director of the Institute of Professional Studies, under which the the Centre of Food Technology functions, said the APEDA has also sanctioned a grant towards the project called "maximum vitamin retention and development of amla products"
  "At present all vitamin C supplements available are synthetic or artificially produced. Although these are effective, concerns have begun to emerge across the world over their possible ill-effects

    References   
 * Puri, Harsharnjit Singh (2002). "Amalaki (Phyllanthus emblica)".
 * Habib-ur-Rehman, Yasin KA, Choudhary MA, (2007)."Studies on the chemical constituents of Phyllanthus emblica".
 * Dharmananda S. Emblic Myrobalans: Amla, Institute of Traditional Medicine
 * Indian Ministry of Health and Family Planning. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India. Part I.
 * Winston, David; Maimes, Steven (2007). "Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief"
 * Jacob A, Pandey M, Kapoor S, Saroja R (1988). "Effect of the Indian gooseberry (amla) on serum cholesterol levels
in men aged 35-55 years".

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